Good Boss, Bad Boss

How to Be the Best-- and Learn From the Worst

If you have a job, chances are you have a boss. Indeed, everybody has a boss, whether it's someone at the supervisory, managerial, or executive level. And if you're like everybody else, you know that keeping the boss happy with your performance is a major focus of your daily corporate life and career. Problem is - and as Bob Sutton made clear in his classic THE NO ASSHOLE RULE - too many of us work for bosses who are jerks. And that's the starting point of BOSS ...

12 Commandments of boss's dirty work, how to implement tough decisions in effective / human ways: 1) do not delay painful decisions / actions 2) assume you are clueless of how people judge you 3) implement tough decisions as best as you can 4) communicate to all affected how distress event will unfold 5) explain early and often why dirty work is necessary 6) give people influence on how painful changes happen even when it is impossible to change what will happen to them 7) never humiliate, belittle or bad-mouth people who are target of your dirty work 8) ask yourself and your fellow bosses if the dirty work is necessary 9) do not bullshit or lie to employees 10) keep your big mouth shut 11) refrain from doing mean spirit things to exact revenge 12) don't attempt dirty work if you lack the power to do it right